The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-06-03

narnIn~ NJ the Opera Com'que IN Paris
nurinr = user(nrsn ance- frixhtful Loss %
I,fr Among the Panlc-Strleken Audience
An Actress burned % Death ~ ''e'
Ores~lnr Room
PANS. Nav & Tho widcly-known thea
tor. the Opera Com qpc, II on nre anu WIN
probably be destroyed.
LArER. Tho Opera Com'quc Il sflll
burning. and no hope Il entertained o.
saving the building. The ire broke out
during the performances. The thcatcr
was crowded. and az the hrst alarm =
rush WIS m dc for the cxis.
Tho fire spread with great
rhpidi,y. and many persons sprangs
from the windows TO the ground 20 AVOID
being caught by the flames. only 70 meet
death BY contact with the pavement
Fourteen Of tho persons who threw them-
selves from the windows were Instantly
killed. and fortv-.hree were picked up
more or lcss Ia iured, some OF them fatally,
ana many seriously. Tho probability that
4 large number OF persons have been
crushed 10 death in the galleries and on
the stairways is very great. but this Ia as
vet uncertain. II is. however, bcyond
question that great AMY occupying
seats near tho stage were caught by the
frc and burned 10 death. Little attention
is being plid to saving The building, al
Efforts being directed 20 rescuing the nn'
fortunate inmates. whose cries NIL the
mir.
LATER
The dead bodies Of five persons have
been taken out Of the front part OF the
theatre They were horribly burned and
II is doubtful that they can be Identified.
Two Of them were those OF woman and
little boy, the woman clasping the child
tightly in her arms
The firc originated IN one Of the wings.
and was caused by a gas jet coming ~
contact with some OF the scenery which
was being shifted into position for the
second act Of "Nignon." the first act be-
ing then In progress. The flames burst
forth like 4 n lsh Of powder, and
the whole interior Of the thea
ter was almost immediately ablfzc.
Nine. Mergolier and NM Tasquin and
Bernard were on the stage at the time,
and so closely were they pursued by the
flames that they were compelled 70 run
through the stage entrance into the street
in stage costume. as did also the other
members OF the company. none OF whom
were gwen time 70 take away an article
OF clothing other than what they wore.
The audience was. OF course panic
stricken. but through the heroic and sys-
tematic efforts OF the ushers and some OF
the cooler-hcadci OF the spectators. they
were kept moving toward the exits with
Aut trampling upon each other.
All Of the occupants ~ the
main portion az the house were
rot out without difficulty. but tho
flames bahind the stage soon severed the
sas connections. leaving the galleries AMI
stairways in darkness before the uppcl
portion Of the house was cleared. and y !.
feared that number ~ persons were
left in the upper tiers and perished- Tho
roof fell in within half an hour after tho
fire started.
Madame Seller. one OF the actresses.
was in her dressing room when the fire
broke out. and being unable 70 make her
escape. was burned - dealt. An % the
other members OF the company and EN-
poyes OF the theatre escaped with their
lives, but several supernumcrarle'
were injured. on" or two n
hon very seriously The tot Al mum her Of
crsons known TO have been killed AM
jurcd Is sixty The building wa
entirely destroyed. and il H. as vet i'm
possible 10 say how many bodies ar
buried beneath It's ruins